Zach LaVine has reinvented himself and is restoring his trade value, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic writes. Chicago has hesitated to move LaVine in seasons’ past due to either a lack of desirable assets in return or interested parties.
LaVine’s play hasn’t been bad during his time with the Bulls, but his large contract (owed $44.5MM in AAV over the next two options with a $48.9MM player option in 2026/27) is a deterrent in this second-apron era. But this year, LaVine’s taken his offensive game to another level. He’s shooting what would be a career-best 42.8% from beyond the arc on 7.5 attempts per game.
The Nuggets have shown an interest in trading for LaVine this week, which is a testament to just how much he’s changed outside perceptions about his game. An anonymous Western Conference scout spoke on a potential fit between LaVine and Denver, per Mayberry.
“He’s obviously going to have to defer,” the scout said of LaVine. “But the thing about Jokić is he makes everybody better. I’d be champing at the bit to be playing off of him. I think [LaVine] will fit in fine. Jokić is so special, he makes guys better probably more than anybody in the entire league.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- For his part, LaVine continues to be focused on the Bulls, according to K.C. Johnson of CHSN (Twitter links). “I’m not the one controlling that,” LaVine said. “That’s what has been so good about my mindset. I can control what my mood is and my mindset going into each game. Outside of that, it’s out of my control. … I signed a lengthy contract here for a reason. I wanted to stay here. But it’s always good to know you have interest because that means you’re a player other people want to play with. I’m just thankful the position I’m at today getting ready for defending NBA champs.” LaVine’s 42.8% three-point percentage is a 7.9 percentage point increase from the previous season and he’s averaging 21.7 points.
- After signing a G League contract on Wednesday, Dennis Smith Jr. was claimed by the Bucks‘ G League affiliate Wisconsin Herd, according to NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link). He will also have a pro day in Orlando in front of several NBA teams as he hopes to make his league return, insider Chris B. Haynes relays (Twitter link). Smith went unsigned this offseason after spending last year with the Nets.
- Milwaukee’s Emirates NBA Cup win gave Damian Lillard a taste of why he was traded to the Bucks, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski writes. “I feel happy,” Lillard said. “The experience of winning something. I’ve had a lot of experience individually where I’ve had accomplishments and stuff, but to have some team success and win something and be the last team standing in this tournament, it feels great.“
- After missing the last 14 games with a strained oblique, Ben Sheppard was available for the Pacers on Thursday, as first reported by IndyStar’s Dustin Dopirak (Twitter link). The second-year wing played a limited role off the bench.
- Sheppard’s return might mean fewer minutes for second-round rookie Johnny Furphy, but the Pacers were impressed by what they saw from the young guard when he stepped up amid injuries. In 17 games this season, he’s averaging 3.4 points and shooting 39.3% from three. “We drafted Furphy to play 40 games in the G League and he’s been in our rotation,” coach Rick Carlisle said, per Dopirak (Twitter link).